Communities and Local Government is consulting on proposals to revise retail policy, known as ‘Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres'. It suggests replacing the current needs test for shops with an impact test, though it is unclear whether it will introduce a competition test to prevent stores from opening in towns where they already have a high share of the market. An appeal with the Competition Appeal Tribunal against a competition test has been launched by Tescos.

Read the retail policy consultation report